Clemson baseball: 3 Tigers in top 100 of 2023 MLB draft prospects

At times this summer it has seemed like all doom and gloom around Clemson baseball after the change in leadership of the program.

Veteran players transferred, some to the program’s biggest rival. Commitments opted to play elsewhere.

In short, things not typically associated with Clemson baseball were happening.

All is not lost though, as Clemson recently had three returning players listed in the 2023 MLB Draft Top 100 College Prospects: Blake Wright, Cooper Ingle and Caden Grice.

Wright slashed .349/.397/.602 with 11 home runs and 40 RBI in 166 at bats and 39 starts.  Wright had the third best  batting average on the team, second best OPS (.999) and tied for third in home runs.

The 5’11, 195 pound rising junior from Clearwater Central Catholic High School in Belleair, Florida had a breakout season in 2022 and came in at No. 31 on the list.

Wright was followed by Cooper Ingle (No. 60 on the list), who quickly became a fan favorite, by doing everything right on the field no matter what position he was playing or where in the lineup he was batting.

Ingle slashed .351/.449/.526 while smashing 8 home runs and driving in 44 runs in 54 starts.

The versatile sophomore from A.C. Reynolds High in Asheville, North Carolina spent time at various places on the field, mostly at catch and DH.

Coming in at No. 96 was the enigma that is Caden Grice, listed as a first baseman and LHP on this list.

Grice struggled through 2022, batting .244 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI, but he struck out an astounding 97 times in 225 at bats, often in non-competitive fashion.

On the mound, Grice hurled 6 innings in 7 appearances, going 2-0 with an ERA of 3.00 with 7 walks and 7 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .193 batting average.

Despite personnel losses through attrition, transfers and the MLB draft, Clemson baseball has three top 100 MLB Draft prospects returning

Wright and Ingle will be key returning pieces to Erik Bakich’s initial edition of Clemson baseball, but Grice could well have the biggest upside of the three if he’s able to cut down on the swing and misses and chasing of off speed pitches.

For all the losses the Tigers suffered both in defections and through the draft, there is a core of returning players, a couple of transfers and incoming freshmen that add intrigue to the 2023 Clemson baseball season ahead.